E115: The Science Behind LA Wildfires: Fire Expert Jon Keeley

Darrell Bricker, co-author of Empty Planet, explains why global population decline—not overpopulation—is the defining issue of the 21st century and what it means for cities, economies, and politics.Guest Bio:Dr. Darrell Bricker is the Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading public opinion research firm, and co-author of Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline. A seasoned demographer and political analyst, Bricker has traveled the world studying population trends and their cultural, economic, and political consequences.Topics Discussed:The global fertility decline and future population collapseWhy overpopulation fears are outdated and misleadingCultural vs. economic drivers of fertility decisionsChallenges facing aging societies (Japan, China, Russia)Urban planning misaligned with demographic realityThe economic risks of fewer consumers and tax contributorsThe failure of pro-natalist policiesGeopolitical implications of shrinking, aging populationsHow cities, businesses, and investors should adaptTop 3 Quotes:“Robots don’t buy cars.”“The real issue we’re dealing with here is culture—not just money.”“Take a look at your own family—how many kids did your grandparents have? How many do your kids plan to have? That’s the story.” 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

27 Mars 202450min

Real estate investor Scott Shindelar explains how Millennials can achieve financial freedom through leveraged rental property investing, tax strategy, and smart long-term planning.Guest Bio:Scott Shindelar is a former geologist turned full-time real estate investor and entrepreneur. By age 30, he had amassed over 100 residential units, co-founded a real estate coworking space and property management company, and authored The Millennial Map to Millions in Real Estate, a practical guide to building wealth through rental property investing.Topics Discussed:How Scott started with a fourplex at 23 and scaled to 100+ unitsThe power of leverage and the “buy, borrow, die” wealth strategyComparing single-family homes vs. multifamily unitsReal estate tax advantages and asset protection via LLCsManaging properties vs. hiring property managersAirbnb, inflation, and market trendsFinancial independence, family life, and unconventional livingPractical advice for people starting with $10K or lessTop 3 quote“Real estate isn’t just about profit—it’s about control, cash flow, and living life on your terms.”  🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

21 Mars 20241h 1min

Sports scientist and high-performance coach Dr. Fergus Connolly shares insights on what elite athletes, special forces, and top organizations have in common—and why simplicity, trust, and human factors matter most.Guest Bio:Dr. Fergus Connolly is one of the world’s leading experts in high performance, with a career spanning elite sports, military units, and corporate consulting. He is the author of Game Changer: The Art of Sports Science and 59 Lessons: Working with the World's Greatest Coaches, Athletes, and Special Forces. Fergus is the only coach to have worked full-time in every major professional sports league, including the NFL, NBA, NCAA, and professional rugby, and he now advises top-tier organizations on leadership, resilience, and team dynamics.Topics Discussed:How performance coaching principles apply across sports, business, and militaryThe limits of analytics and the need to understand contextWhy modern athletes may be overtrained and under-recoveredThe dangers of overstaffing and inconsistent messaging in professional sportsWhat makes effective teams: alignment, honesty, and simplicityWhy NIL and brand-building are transforming college sportsManaging off-the-field stressors for peak on-the-field performanceHow sleep, environment, and mental clarity drive successThe problem with “best” hires vs. “right” hiresTop 3 Quotes:“Techniques are many, but the principles are few—and they transfer among all high performers.”“80% of your job is knowing what not to do.”“Don’t hire the best person—hire the right person for your team and your culture.” 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

15 Mars 202457min

AI scientist Erik J. Larson explains why today's large language models, including ChatGPT, may impress but still fall far short of true artificial intelligence—and how that misunderstanding threatens culture, knowledge, and innovation.Guest Bio: Dr. Erik J. Larson is an AI scientist, tech entrepreneur, and author of The Myth of Artificial Intelligence, known for his critical insights into generative models and their cultural impact, shared through his Substack Colligo.Topics Discussed:Why ChatGPT doesn’t invalidate The Myth of AIThe illusion of intelligence in generative modelsLimits of AI progress due to compute, data, and physicsDangers of AI bias and epistemological collapseSam Altman’s techno-utopian vision vs. realityDeepfakes, misinformation, and the fragility of truthDecline of human-centered innovation and educationWhy the path to AGI may be a dead endTop 3 Quotes:“It’s actually easier to screw the world up with this tech than it is to stop it.”“We're walking into a trap as we think we're innovating.”“Calling it ‘intelligence’ was one of the first really bad ideas.”  🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

6 Mars 202456min

Why modern philanthropy reinforces inequality—and how to fix it. Author and former fundraising consultant Dr. Amy Schiller joins the show to discuss her new book The Price of Humanity, examining how elite-driven giving has lost its moral purpose and how we might restore a more democratic, dignifying vision of philanthropy.👤 GuestDr. Amy Schiller – Author, political theorist, and former philanthropic strategist; author of The Price of Humanity: How Philanthropy Went Wrong and How to Fix It (2023).🧠 Topics DiscussedThe commodification of giving and rise of “donor ego”Tax loopholes, donor-advised funds, and LLC "charities"Effective altruism, longtermism, and the Sam Bankman-Fried sagaPhilanthropy as power vs. philanthropy as public goodReform ideas: giving wage, payout rules, and rebuilding legitimacyWhy LeBron James—not Bill Gates—is the ideal modern philanthropist💬 Top 3 Quotes“What makes something a gift is giving it without the expectation of something in return.”“Existing humans are depreciating assets—at least to effective altruists.”“Philanthropy literally means love of humanity. Let’s do it in a way that actually validates the fullest definition of humanity.” 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

1 Mars 202454min

Economist and retirement expert Dr. Wade Pfau explains how to avoid the most common retirement mistakes and make smarter Social Security, Medicare, tax, and income decisions that can add six figures to your financial future.Guest Bio: Dr. Wade D. Pfau is a Ph.D. economist from Princeton, founder of RetirementResearcher.com, and Professor of Practice at the American College of Financial Services. A leading authority on retirement income planning, he is the author of Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating Important Decisions for Retirement Success, widely considered one of the most comprehensive resources on the subject.Topics Discussed:The Four L's of Retirement: Longevity, Lifestyle, Liquidity, LegacySocial Security: optimal claiming strategies and common misconceptionsThe 80/20 rule in retirement planningMedicare costs, IRMAA surcharges, and long-term care planningRoth conversions and avoiding the "tax torpedo"Relocation, housing, and the role of reverse mortgagesChoosing between investment-based and safety-first retirement income stylesAnnuities: when they make sense and why they’re misunderstoodWindfall Elimination Provision and public sector pensionsThe psychological and lifestyle side of retirementTop 3 Quotes:“For most Americans, Social Security is their biggest retirement asset—it can be worth over a million dollars across a lifetime.”“You don’t retire from something—you retire to something. Purpose and passion matter just as much as financial planning.”“Delaying Social Security from 62 to 70 gives you a 76% increase in inflation-adjusted income for life—that’s a Bernie Madoff return, but real.” 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

24 Feb 202452min

Dr. J. Storrs Hall explains how bureaucracy, cultural stagnation, and fear of energy halted the future we were promised—flying cars, nanotech, and unlimited clean power—and what it’ll take to bring it back.🎙️ Guest Info:Dr. J. Storrs Hall is a scientist, author, and futurist specializing in nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science, was a pioneer in molecular nanotech research, and authored Where Is My Flying Car?, Beyond AI, and Nanofuture. He is a leading voice in techno-optimism and a critic of regulatory overreach and cultural risk aversion.📌 Topics Discussed:Why flying cars should exist—and nearly didThe "Great Stagnation" since the 1970sEnergy use as the true bottleneck of progressHow regulation killed innovationAI’s future and the promise of nanotechnologyEnvironmental fundamentalism vs. nuclear powerWhy college IQs dropped and degrees devaluedWhat 2050 might actually look likeCold fusion, space travel, and civilization’s next leapOptimism vs. doom in the 21st century💬 3 Standout Quotes (Formatted for Visual or Social Use):"The real danger isn't AI—it's that we finally build the future and then screw it up."– Dr. J. Storrs Hall"We could have had flying cars by now. Bureaucracy and fear killed them, not physics.""If humanity gets nanotech right, we can rebuild all U.S. infrastructure in a week." 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

16 Feb 20241h 4min

Sex robots, intimacy, AI ethics, and the future of human-robot relationships explored with science fiction scholar Dr. Jennifer Farrell,👤 Guest Bio:Dr. Jennifer Farrell is a professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and a science fiction scholar whose research explores the ethical, emotional, and cultural implications of emerging technologies—including sex robots.🧠 Topics Discussed:The evolution of sex robots: from dolls to AI companionsCultural, ethical, and psychological barriers to adoptionHow science fiction anticipates real-world dilemmasEmotional attachment to AI and shifting definitions of relationshipsLegal and societal impacts of sentient machinesMarket size, usage trends, and regulatory blind spotsThe blurred line between novelty, therapy, and exploitation💬 Top Quotes:“Half of men in the Amsterdam robot brothel couldn’t come to completion—uncanny valley is real.”“A sex robot programmed to love you short-circuits the basic human need to be chosen.”“It’s okay to be uncomfortable and not have a solid opinion on sex robots—we’re in uncharted territory.” 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!

9 Feb 202457min